Oregon Must Raise Ambitions in Decisive Decade for Climate Action, Reveals New Analysis

Oregon Risks Falling Short of Climate Goals, Analysis Shows

Last legislative session, Oregon’s lawmakers had the opportunity to update Oregon’s statutory climate targets. This would have been the first time that Oregon updated its outdated climate targets in 15 years and would have brought Oregon’s climate goals in line with the level of ambition of President Biden’s national climate targets and from other climate leadership states.

Legislative Session Stalled by Walkout Tactic

But then, Oregon’s legislative session was stalled by a small group of state Senators who fled the Capitol instead of fulfilling their core responsibility as elected officials: to represent their constituents by casting votes in the legislative process. This walkout tactic has been used time and time again and has prevented climate action supported by a majority of Oregonians. This year’s walkouts — the longest in Oregon’s history — prevented Oregon from updating its climate goals.

Risk of Falling Short on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

Without updated climate goals in place, Oregon risks falling short of securing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions that are needed to avoid the most dangerous, irreversible impacts of climate change. Oregon has made important progress in regulating emissions, as one of the states leading the way on cutting pollution from the power sector, the transportation sector, and natural gas fuels — but new analysis by EDF has found that without additional action, Oregon is projected to fall short of achieving its climate commitments.

EDF Analysis Reveals Emissions Gap

EDF conducted an analysis based on data from Rhodium Group comparing business-as-usual (BAU) emissions projections to each state’s climate commitments. The analysis found that Oregon is falling short of the level of climate ambition required to achieve emissions reductions at the pace and scale needed to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.

Oregon’s Emissions Reduction Projections

EDF’s analysis projects that Oregon will cut statewide emissions between 12% and 16% from 2005 levels by 2025, missing the 2025 U.S. Climate Alliance goal of a 26% reduction by 2025. The state is also projected to cut emissions between 23% and 29% from 2005 levels by 2030, missing the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goal of a 50% reduction by 2030. Oregon is still 19% behind on achieving the state’s 2020 climate goal.

Closing the Emissions Gap

To close the emissions gap and turn its climate commitments into reality, Oregon must take action. Here are some steps that can be taken:

1. Heighten ambition and fill in the gaps in Oregon’s climate regulations using existing authority. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution. This authority should be utilized to increase ambition and fill in the gaps in Oregon’s climate regulations, ensuring that all sectors are subject to emission reduction requirements.

2. Set updated climate targets that are binding and consistent with the science. Updated, mandatory climate targets would raise the level of ambition across Oregon’s climate policies and programs while providing certainty that polluters from all sectors will be required to cut their pollution.

3. Harness federal funding to boost climate action while supporting Oregon’s economy. Oregon has the opportunity to access federal funding for climate and clean energy investments. These investments will make decarbonization cheaper and allow Oregon to achieve both climate and economic benefits in a cost-effective way.

Oregon’s Critical Moment in the Climate Fight

Oregon is at a critical moment in the fight against climate change. Climate-related events are already straining the state’s medical system, and wildfires continue to impact lives and livelihoods. The science is clear that rapid and deep emissions reductions are needed in all sectors this decade.

Oregon must protect and strengthen its current policies and programs while also implementing new measures to close the emissions gap and achieve its climate commitments. A mandatory, coordinated approach is necessary to ensure that all sectors of Oregon’s economy contribute to emissions reductions at the necessary pace and scale.

Original Story at blogs.edf.org – 2023-09-15 15:16:04